Finnish adventure in back country skiing and skijoëring


Norwide Finland invites you to discover the nature of Lapland and Hossa's National Park with Nordic skis. This method of locomotion provides a gentle and subtle approach to the vast nature that Kainuu's region offer us.

After a warm-up day, you will live like the old trappers for 3 days in the middle of tundra and frozen lakes. Maybe you will even have the chance to observe some polar animals (hares, grouse ...). With originality, you will also have the opportunity to experience the frozen park in skijoring: nordic skiing race pulled by sled dogs. An Arctic adventure that will remain set up in your mind for a long time.

Itinerary

  • Day 1 Journey and welcoming dinner

    Journey and welcoming dinner Transfer by bus or by car to Hossa (about 1 hour), at the gates of the park. Settle down in your log cottage or in your hotel room. First night, our guides greet you at the restaurant upon a welcoming dinner.

    Accommodation: Traditional Cottage

  • Day 2 back-country skiing warm-up

    back-country skiing warm-up Your guide introduces you to the Park and to the activity. You go for your first skiing hike for the day in order to gently get used to the arctic climate, to the equipment, and to start enjoying the wonderful landscapes. Lunch in the park by a lovely fireplace. We get back to the basecamp in order to have some time to prepare carefully our belongings for the trek.

    Practice time : 4 to 5 hours (about 20km)
    Accommodation: Traditional Cottage

  • Day 3 Back-country skiing Trek - Peurapirti

    Back-country skiing Trek - Peurapirti We leave the basecamp for three days in the heart of the park. By this way of locomotion, you are able to move across every single type of snowy land. Therefore, you go out of the park trails in order to maximize the chances of observing the local wildlife (hares, grouse, ...). Picnic lunch, hot meal at a lovely fireplace by Iikoski river. Arrival in the late afternoon at Peurapirtti trapper cabin.

    Practice time : 5 hours (about 25km)
    Accommodation: Trapper cabin

  • Day 4 Back-country skiing Trek – Varikalio and rock paintings

    Back-country skiing Trek – Varikalio and rock paintings For the second day of the trek, you leave Peurapirtti hut to head up to the North. You will reach Varikalio rock paintings. These 5000 years old rock paintings stand by an amazing frozen lake. It clearly distinguishes several reindeers, Lappish characters, or even a bear. These paintings are an important historical element for Finland, they are also one of the reasons for the creation of Hossa Park, and the mural is the northernmost of the country. Our picnic lunch is a hot meal in a traditional "Sami" (Lappish people) kota. Return in the late afternoon to Peurapirti or Hirvastupa trapper cabin where you can enjoy a good traditional sauna: the bravest will then jump into the frozen lake after learning how to dig a hole in the ice!

    Practice time : 5 hours (about 25km)
    Accommodation: Trapper cabin

  • Day 5 Back-country skiing Trek– Jatkonvaara Hill

    Back-country skiing Trek– Jatkonvaara Hill After a comfortable night in your cabin, last stage of our trek with a wooded itinerary. Picnic lunch is taken at a lovely fireplace in Jatkonsalmi. In the afternoon, we climb the Jatkonvaara hill (300m). On this hill, snow carried by the wind has accumulated on trees, constantly inventing new forms. The view point on the top of the hill is magical. From there we will have a wonderful view of the surrounding landscapes and we will measure how vast are the Lappish snowy stretches. Then we get back passing through Seipiniemi peninsula, that we cross from side to side and we finally get back to the basecamp in the early evening.

    Practice time : 5 hours (about 25km)
    Accommodation:Traditional Cottage

  • Day 6 Free Day – Optional activities

    Free Day – Optional activities This day is dedicated to relaxing: you will enjoy sauna and snowballs fights! For those who wish, there will also be the possibility to practice an optional activity among dogsledding, snowmobiling, reindeer farm visit, snowshoeing, hike with dogs or our 150 dogs kennel visit.

    Accommodation: Traditional Cottage

  • Day 7 Ski joëring

    Ski joëring We offer here an original experience to end up your adventure in a funny way: with dog skijoring! You are still wearing your Nordic skis but this time you are pulled by one or two sled dogs. You are wearing a belt to which is attached a lanyard linked to the dog harness. Let yourself slide down the vastness of the frozen lakes in Hossa. Fun and great feelings guaranteed!
    In the evening we eat the traditional Lappish meal: Käristus, or reindeer stew with cranberries

    Practice time : 4 to 5 hours
    Accommodation: Traditional Cottage

  • Day 8 Transfer

    Transfer Breakfast and transfer to Kuusamo airport.

Dates & prices

Departures for French-speaking groups:

From To Price per person Guaranteed Booking
€2,425 No Book now!

International departures:

No departure for now

Trip code: S2

Included

  • Airport transfers to/from Kuusamo airport
  • 5 nights in cottage accommodation
  • 2 nights in trappers huts
  • Sauna access most evenings
  • Full board from day 1 dinner to breakfast day 8
  • Activities supervised by Northern Wilderness professional guides French and English Speaking
  • All technical equipment needed including cold weather clothing (see 'practical info' / 'equipment' for details)

Not included

  • Flights
  • Insurance

Additional Options

Please let us know if you would like to reserve any of the following optional activities/supplements:
  • Single room at the hotel: €220 pp.
  • Visit to our kennels: free
  • Local reindeer farm visit: €12

Notes

Comfort: 3/5 Various

Some of our trips involve a mixture of accommodation options. This trip includes : 5 nights in cottage accommodation, 2 nights in trappers huts

Level: 3/5 Challenging

You should be in good physical shape to join our more challenging adventures. You should have a sense of adventure, a positive attitude and be prepared for a full-on action packed programme including 6+ hours of activity per day. This trip involves pulling pulkas and please note that our difficulty ratings may vary depending on the weather.

Minimum age: 14

International flights

Flights are not included but this trip includes airport transfers to/from Kuusamo airport - please contact us if you require transfers to/from somewhere different.

Terms and conditions

Booking conditions

Booking a trip with Norwide implies acceptance of the terms and conditions of sale. Each customer is required to complete a registration form and, subject to availability at the time of registration, travellers are expected to pay a deposit of 30% of the total price to complete their booking. Payments can be made online or by bank transfer. You will receive an e-mail with your booking confirmation.

Invoice procedure

Once your booking is confirmed you will receive an invoice by e-mail. The full balance of the trip must be received at least 30 days before your departure date. Norwide reserve the right to cancel your booking, free of charge, if this deadline is not respected.

Cancellation policy

If for any reason you have to cancel your trip, Norwide require written confirmation of your decision. The money you have paid will then be refunded according to the following deductions:

  • Cancellation received more than 30 days prior to the departure date: a sum of €50 per person will be retained
  • Cancellation received 30 to 21 days before the departure date: your deposit, 30% of the total trip price will be retained
  • Cancellation received 20 to 14 days before the departure date: 50% of the total trip price will be retained
  • Cancellation received 13 to 7 days before the departure date: 75% of the total trip price will be retained
  • Cancellation received less than 7 days before the departure date: 100% of the total trip price will be retained

Special cases:
Please note that, regardless of the date of cancellation or modification if you have agreed to pay for services such as hotel reservations, flights or additional activities, these services are usually non-refundable so additional fees may apply.
  • Fixed airfares: if your airline ticket was issued in advance, often done to avoid significant surcharges, you will be charged 100% of any non-refundable fees if you wish to change or cancel your flight plan.
  • Fixed in-country costs: early charges for firm bookings will be charged if you cancel or modify your trip.
  • Insurance costs: if you have taken out comprehensive or cancellation insurance, the cost of insurance is due and cannot be refunded.


Please note that fees apply according to the date we receive your cancellation or modification request in writing.

If we have to cancel a departure due to an insufficient number of participants, you will be informed no later than 21 days before departure and a full refund will be issued, you will not be entitled to further compensation. We reserve the rights to cancel departures due to exceptional circumstances which may impact the safety of participants. Such circumstances include those amounting to 'force majeure' in which case participants will receive a full refund but they will not be entitled to any compensation.

Changes to travel contract

If you wish to make a change to your booking please contact us in writing; you will be expected to pay any fee which might arise from this change. In the event of unforeseen external events, Norwide may change some aspects of the travel contract. If any changes are necessary you will be informed as quickly as possible.

Pricing

The prices on our website are updated regularly and all of the prices we advertise are accurate when published. We reserve the rights to make changes to any of these prices. Before you make a booking we will give you the up-to-date price of your chosen holiday including any supplements, upgrades or additional activities you may have requested. If the number of travellers is fewer than the indicated number of participants on the website, a small group surcharge may be applied. For all of our trips we include details of services, prices and what is/is not included but please be aware that changes to the prices may be necessary in accordance with exchange rates or price changes of various components of the journey.

Contract transfer

If you are unable to travel for any reason, you can transfer your booking to another person in which case our modification conditions apply. Both the transferor and transferee will be jointly and severally liable for payment of the total holiday price and other associated expenses. Some airline carriers treat name changes as cancellations and you may be required to pay for the cost of a new ticket.

Insurance

Practical info

Staff

Activities supervised by artic specialist and English speaking guides. Ask for the availability of a guide who can speak your own language!

Food

Finland is not a land of gastronomy, even though some specialties are delicious! Because of weather conditions and our isolated location, fresh products are quite rare. During your stay we will offer you simple dishes which will fit your energetic needs. You will also have the opportunity to taste some Finnish specialties such as marinated or grilled salmon, salmon soup, reindeer stew or traditional cakes. A generous buffet breakfast will be served at the hotel restaurant, as well as dinners when you sleep at the hotel.

For the activity days :
  • For lunch, you will enjoy a picnic with wood-fire grilled food
  • For your nights in trapper cabin you will prepare and share a dinner together with your guide 

Accommodation

Our basecamp is located in the heart of Hossa Park, 100km away from any village or shop. Our conception of tourisme has nothing to do with mass tourism hubs like Rovaniemi, Ivalo or Kittila. No Santa Claus Village with us! There are 23 inhabitants around Hossa and most of them are reindeer farmers. Indeed, there are more bears living up there than inhabitants! We are living there in autonomy and are working in deep cooperation with the National Forrest Service which runs Hossa Park development. During your stay, you will not have many opportunities to meet local people since there are very few of them. You might meet some ice fishers or Nordic skiers.

During your stay, you will be accommodated for 5 nights in our hotel or cottages and for 2 nights in a trapper cabin:

- Cottages : All rooms are equiped with a private bathroom with shower, practical storage units, a T.V with international channels and a private sauna. Bed linens and towels are provided by Norwide. Nearby your room, you have free access to our sauna. After an energetic sport day, you will enjoy relaxing in this wooden piece of peace !

- Here is another accommodation option: the cottages (on request, subject to availability) :
  • The « Classical » cottage, with an only room with living room/kitchen, twin or bunked beds, private bathroom and sauna

Bed linens and towels are provided by Norwide.

Trapper cabins:
These are log cabins just like mountain refuges. The comfort is basic. These accommodations consist of a single dormitory or a room for 4 to 6 people with one main living room. There is no running water or electricity. The room is heated by a wood-stove. Despite cold weather outside, the room is quickly warmed up by the stove and we easily get to fine temperatures inside. There are dry toilets outside. The cabins are all equipped with a traditional sauna. They are full of charm and that’s why we love them!

Transportation

-  4 back-country skiing days :
During a first immersion day, you will become more familiar with the discipline and learn the basics. After this necessary introduction, you will leave for 3 days in the heart of Hossa Park, for a wild cocktail of sport, adventic and arctic discoveries. For more comfort , you carry only your daily equipment whereas all the necesary equipment for evenings and nights (food, sleeping bags , etc. ) is supplied by us every evening. 4 to 6 hours of back-country skiing per day with very low elevations. Group size: Up to 6 persons

- 1 skijoring day :
Up on your cross-country or back-country skis, you are attached to a sled dog by a lanyard and harness. Let yourself slide on the frozen vastness of Hossa park lakes. A mode of travel quite original that will appeal to your skiing and dog training talents! Group size: Up to 6 persons

- 1 free day, multiple-choice about the activity/form of travel:
During the week, one day without any activity is planned. This is the opportunity for you to discover a new form of travel/activity like dogsledding, snowmobiling, or snowshoeing (subject to availability, on site). This is also the opportunity for you to rest and relax and enjoying sauna before being back to reality !

Vital equipment

  • High protection sunglasses
  • Mask
  • Personal medicine kit
  • Sun-cream (from the end of February)
  • Vaseline or waterfree mosturising cream
  • A headlamp
  • A thermos, in order to always have some hot beverage with you while practicing the activities. For lunch, the guide will provide you with hot beverages.

  • Boots (type SOREL) are issued on arrival and are yours throughout the week
  • For snowmobile safaris : overalls and helmet
  • For dogsledge safaris : winter jacket for extreme cold and leather mittens
  • For each bivouac night spent in a trapper cabin: sleeping bag

Helpful equipment

« The three layer system » :
Extreme conditions need extrem level of protection. For your clothing, the multilayer method is the best. You will have to wear several layers of clothing. The closest layers to your body let it sweat easily. The other layers keep your body warm and protect it from extreme weather conditions.
- Base / Inner Layer Close-fitting articles of clothing:  polypropylene, polyester, capilene, wool or silk baselayer thermals. .
- Insulating / Middle Layer Warm pull-over or fleece jacket. .
- Shell / Outer Layer Goretex, or a comparable ski jacket is strongly recommended for this layer for its excellent water and wind resistant properties.

You will need the following:
  • Waterproof shoes, winter hiking shoes, sports shoes or snow boots (for evening wear)
  • Woolen socks
  • Warm winter jacket (ski jacket or down jacket
  • Ski trousers or ski overalls
  • Warm pull-overs or fleece jackets
  • Warm baselayer thermals : very important.  Thin technical fibers as Carline or Polartec are extremely efficient.
  • Expedition waterproof mitten/gloves and fitted silk gloves
  • Woolen hat
  • Hool, Balaclava
  • Scarf
  • Swimming suit (sauna)
  • Microfiber towel (sauna)

Personal effects that you must bring with you:
  • A sleeping bag linr for each overnight in trapper cabin (it goes into the sleeping bag that we lend you, for hygienic reasons)
  • Your driving licence (compulsory when you drive a snowmobile)
  • A credit card : we make a copy of it that is used as a deposit for all the equipment provided 

Luggage

Your belongings must be distributed into 2 bags :
1- A suitcase or flexible travelling bag (max. 20kg)
2- A backpack (30 to 40L) for your usual belongings that you will bring with you while practicing the activities
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Region
Hossa
Activity
Hiking Skiing Winter
Duration
8 days
Group
5 to 10 people
Code
S2
Price
From €2,995
Level
3/5
Comfort
3/5
Language(s)
French / English

Strengths

  • A smooth discovery of Hossa park with back-country skis
  • Immersion at the heart of wild nature with overnight in trapper cabins
  • The thrill of skijoring

Guide's advice

Norwide Finland invites you to discover the nature of Lapland and Hossa Park with Nordic skis. This method of locomotion provides gentle and different approach to the varied nature.[/b]

After a warm-up day, you will go like old trappers for 3 days in the middle of tundra and frozen lakes. Maybe you will even have the chance to observe some polar animals (hares, grouse ...). With originality, you will also have the opportunity to experience the frozen park in skijoring: nordic skiing race pulled by sled dogs. An Arctic adventure that will remain set up in your mind for a long time.

Required level


This is a trip in harmony with nature, where you are active: the only form of travel you will use will be your two skis, and our beloved dogs ! No need to be top athlete but a good physical condition is required. If you want to enjoy this trip, you need to be motivated, to be a lover of outdoor life, and to be willing to discover new experiences. Even if it is not essential to have a previous experience in back-country skiing, you need to be used to practice sports like hiking and skiing (not necessarily with big differences in height).

We offer here real sports activities (between 4 and 6 skiing hours a day) with quite easy level, in a natural surrounding with two nights in a rustic but convivial cabin. The trip will take place on a Great North remote land. This non-sanitized field of adventure will require from you certain adaptability to terrain and weather conditions which can vary quite fast. This is a participative trip, meaning that you will participate into ski expedition equipment preparations. During the 3day hike, your will prepare together with the group and your guide meals, chop wood, fetch water, …

You will generally participate in the everyday group life. Teenagers from 15 years old can participate in this trip, provided that the child is sporty and is used to practice outdoor activities (hiking, biking, skiing, sailing) and to resist to though weather conditions. If not, we recommend you to choose a family or less sporty trip. The trip selection is very important for a full enjoyment on site. We recommend this trip to anyone who is looking for a unique sport experience in the Great North, with no other mean of transport but skis and dogs, in total harmony with this white paradise, and off the beaten track!

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